Vegetable peeling machine



p i 13, 19 3. N. s. SELLS 68 VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8,1939 3 She't s-Sheet 1 FIEL J INVENTOR. NEAL 5. JELLS A TTORN E YS.

FiledAug. 8, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NEAL. 5. JELLJ ATTORNEYS.

R ww April 13, 1943. SELLS 2,316,368

VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE ZEIINVENTOR. NEAL. 5. SELLS ATTOR EYS.

STATES 2,316,368 VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE Neal S. Sells, Hoopeston,111., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., acorporation of Delaware Application August 8, 1939, Serial No. 288,966

16 Claims. (01. 146-49) TENT OFFICE The present invention appertains toa vege- Fig. 9 is a section of a portion of the machine table peelingmachine of the type wherein roas shown in Fig. 3, illustrating theoperation of tatable elements provided with an abrasive surthe peelingelements and movable partitions in a face perform peeling operationsupon vegetables somewhat diagrammatic manner. continuously advancedthrough the machine. Fig. is a reduced section of a portion of Machinesof this nature employed heretofore Fig. 1 taken in the direction oflines Iii-40 thereare of a rather complicated construction and of,showing the arrangement of the various require frequent attention, sothat their costs pulleys of the machine with respect to each other. ofmaintenance are very high. Referring now to the drawings and primarilyIt is therefore the object of the present inven- 10 to Fig. l, 2indicates the lower frame structure tion to provide a vegetable peelingmachine of 9f the vegetable peeling machine which carries the continuoustype above referred to which is an upper frame structure 3 hingedthereto as of a simple construction and inexpensive in its shown at 4for permitting tilting of the upper upkeep and operation. framestructure of the machine with respect to Another object of the presentinvention is to the lower frame structure 2 thereof. The amount providea machine for peeling vegetables in a of tilt of the upper framestructure is regulated continuous manner, and for rotating the mass bymeans of an adjustment nut 6 of a screw rod of vegetables during itstravel through the ma- 1 supported by a bracket 8 secured to the framechine for presenting the individual components 2 of the machine. Thescrew rod 1 extends thereof to the action of the peeling elements.through an elongated opening 1a in a bracket Another object of thepresent invention is to 9 attached to the upper frame structure 3. Theprovide a peeling machine for rotating the in- V bracket 9 and the upperframe structure 3 are dividual components of a mass of vegetablessupported by the adjustable nut 6 while a lock passing through themachine for presenting all nut it is adapted to secure the partsreferred to portions of their surface to the action of the inpredetermined positions of adjustment. peeling elements for removing theskin or epi- The upper frame structure comprises side walls dermisthereof. H and I2 and end walls 13 and I4 forming a Another object ofthe present invention is to treating compartment l5. Attached to the endprovide a peeling machine including means for Wall l3 adjacent anopening 16 is a feed hopper preventing excessive peeling of thevegetables ll, while the end wall I4 is provided with a distreatedthereby and for promoting the advancecharge chute I8 positioned adjacenta discharge ment of the same through the machine. opening 19 in the endwall 14. Mounted between Another object of the present invention is tothe side walls H and i2 are a plurality of transprovide a peelingmachine which includes means versely extending peeling rolls 20 providedwith for regulating the treating period of vegetables stud shafts 2i and22 rotatably received within therein and for controlling theiradvancement bearings 23 secured to the side walls II and I2 therethroughin an effective manner. of the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of The rotatable peelingelements 20 are provided the present invention will become apparent fromwith abrasive surfaces 24 and are arranged in the following descriptionand drawings, in which: groups of four, spaced with respect to eachother Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine of the by means ofspacer members 25 and 25a expresent invention. tending transversely ofthe machine. The spacer Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. members 25 areattached to the side walls H and Fig. 3 illustrates a longitudinalsection taken 12 0f the machine, While e p er e ber 511 along the lines33 of Fig. 2, certain parts being is secured to the side wall l2 and endwall 13 broken away. thereof. The peeling elements 20 are positionedFig. 4 is a transverse section of the machine 1 in such a manner withinthe upper frame struc of the present invention taken along lines 4-4ture of the machine as to form an inclined treatof Fig. 2, certain partsbeing omitted. ing bed over which vegetables to be peeled are Fig. 5 isa perspective view of a partition mem- 5 advanced from the feed hopperto the discharge her employed in the present invention, certain chute ofthe machine.

portions thereof being broken away. The stud shafts 22, as will be seenfrom Figs. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5 taken along 2 and 4,extend a considerable distance beyond the lines 6S thereof. the sidewall l2 exterior of the treating com- Fig. 7 is a reduced transversesection of a porpartment I5 and are provided with V-belt pultion of Fig.2 taken along lines 1-7 thereof. leys 26 keyed thereto. Fig. 8 is adetail view of the operating mech- The V-belt pulleys 26 are arranged ingroups anism for the movable partitions employed in of two spaced atstaggered distances from the the construction Of the present invention,cerside wall [2 and positioned in such a, manner tain parts being brokenaway. as to align with V-belt pulleys 21 and 28, re-

spectively, keyed to stud shafts 29 rotatably supported within sleevebearings 30 attached to the side walls I2 of the upper frame structure.The various groups of pulleys 26 and their corresponding pulleys 21 or23 are operatively interconnected by means of V-belts 3i and 32,respectively, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Keyed to the shafts 29are further pulleys 33 operatively interconnected and aligned with rivepulleys 34 and 36, respectively, fixed to a drive shaft 37 of a motor 38by means of V- shaped drive belts 39 and 49 in a manner as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will therefore be seen that uponoperation of the motor 38 the peeling rolls 2!] will be rotated in acommon direction and at the same speed of rotation.

Positioned within the treating compartment l of the upper framestructure 3 and pivotally mounted between the side walls I l and Hithereof above the spacer members and 25a are transversely extendingpartitions or deflectors 4|, 42, 43, and 44. The partition 4[ ispositioned within the upper frame structure of the machine adjacent thefeed hopper I1, while the partitions 42 to 44 inclusive are arrangedwithin the treating compartment [5, driving the same into a plurality ofguide channels or treating sections 46, 41, 48, and 49.

The partition 43, a detailed view of which is shown in Fig. 5, consistsof vertical apron portions and El, provided with a supporting rod 52 anda sleeve portion 53, respectively. The sleeve portion 53, within whichthe rod 52 is received, is slidable relative to the latter and isfurther rotatably and slidably mounted within a bearing 54 on the sidewall II. The end 55 of the rod 52 extends through a bearing 56 on theside wall [2 and is provided with an actuating arm 51 fixed thereto. Thesleeve portion 53 includes further a downwardly extending portion 53, sothat in the assembly of the parts, as shown in Fig. 5. the apron portion5| and the downwardly extending portion 58 receive the apron 5Qtherebetween, so that they may be swung back and forth together bymechanism hereinafter to be described. 7

The apron 50 of the partition 43 extends from the side wall 1 2 towardthe side wall H, leaving a passage opening 59 adjacent the latter b\.tween the treating sections 41 and 43, which may be enlarged or reducedby shifting the sleeve 53 and the adjustable apron portion 5| of thepartition 43 relative to the apron portion 56.

One of the partitions 4'2 and 44, which are both of the sameconstruction, has been shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that each oneof these partitions is of a construction similar to that of thepartition 43 previously referred to herein. However, in the case of thepartition members 42 and 44 the position of the aprons 59a and 5la andthe passage openings formed thereby is reversed with respect to the sidewalls II and i2 of the machine. All corresponding parts of Figs. 4 and 5have been correspondingly designated and a detailed description of thepartition units 42 and 44 is not deemed necessary in view of thespecific description given in regard to the partition unit 43hereinbefore.

It will therefore be seen from the above that the apron members 50a ofthe partitions 42 and 44 extend from the side wall H toward the sidewall [2, providing passage openings to and 5E, respectively, whichestablish communication between the secitons 46 and 41 and sections 48and 49 in a manner as shown in Fig. 2. The passage openings 60 and BImay be likewise reduced or enlarged by shifting the aprons 5|a relativeto their cooperating apron members 50a. The free ends of the supportingrods 52a of the partitions 42 and 44 extend through bearings 62 attachedto the side walls [2 and carry actuating arms 63 fixed thereto.

The partition 4! adjacent the end wall l3, as best seen in Fig. 7,consists of a single apron 64, pivotally supported within bearings 65and 86 by means of a supporting rod 6?, which extends through thebearing 66 and carries an actuating arm 68 fixed thereto. The apron 64terminates short of the side wall II to provide a passage opening 69algined with the inlet opening it of the machine for admittingvegetables from the feed hopper i! into section 46. From the above itwill therefore be seen that the passage openings of the variouspartitions described herein provide a tortuous path for the vegetablespassing through the machine.

All of the sleeve portions of the partitions 42 to 44 inclusive extendthrough their cooperating bearings 54 exterior of the side wall H asufficient distance to permit shifting of the aprons 5i and 5la to theirmaximum open position and are provided with knobs l'fl to permitmanipulation thereof.

The actuating arms 57, 53, and 68 are pivotally connected to aconnecting bar TI, and pivotally secured to the latter and arm 68 at 12is an eccentric arm 13 operated by an eccentric 74, which forms a partof a gear 15 rotatably supported upon a shaft '56 attached to the sidewall E2 of the upper frame structure of the machine. This gear 15intermeshes with a drive gear 71 fixed to the left hand shaft 29, asshown in Fig. 1.

It will therefore be seen that when the motor 38 is operated to causerotation of the peeling elements 20, gear 11 will be rotated to efiectoperation of the eccentric 14, causing reciprocation of the eccentricarm 13 and connecting bar H. The reciprocating movement of theconnecting bar H, which is connected by means of the actuating arms 68,63, and 5! to the partitions 4| to 44 inclusive causes a swingingmovement of the partitions around the longitudinal axes of theirsupporting rods 61, 52a, and 52, respectively, from center to center oftheir adjacent peeling rolls.

Vegetables such as potatoes, beets, carrots or the like, continuouslysupplied to the feed hopper H, are discharged therefrom into the section46 and are crowded in oppositely transverse directions through thetreating compartment I 5 of the machine. In other words, the vegetablesadmitted to section 48 are crowded toward the passage opening 60 thereofand through the same enter the treating section 41 of the machine withinwhich they are directed toward the passage opening 59, and through thelatter into the treating section 48. From section 48 the vegetablestravel through the passage opening 6| into section 49 from which theyare finally discharged through the opening (9 upon the chute l8 anddelivered from the machine. The vegetables advance therefore in oppositedirections through alternate treating sections of the machine, wherebythe vegetables continuously entering the machine crowd those within thetreating sections through the same and outwardly of the machine. Duringthe travel of the comestibles in this manner through the varioustreating sections, and while the peeling elements 20, which are providedwith an abrasive surface, are rotated, the

mass of the-vegetables in, each treating section is revolvedandvagitated so that the individual components thereof are. presented tothe action of the peeling rolls, and their skin or epidermis is removedthereby. The agitation and the rotation of the mass above referred toisprimarily due to the combined actionof the .rolls Zilyand thpartitions adjacent the same, which are swung back and forth during theoperation of the machine.

To explain this operation more specifically, reference is made to Fig. 9wherein a single treating section has been. diagrammaticallyillustrated, together with a mass of vegetables positioned thereinbetween adjacent partitions 42 and 43. From this illustration it will benoted that; while the partition 42 moves, from its full line to itsdotted line position as shown at 80 during the continuous rotation ofthe peeling elements 20 in a clockwise direction, the partition 43 willsimultaneously move from its full line position to its dotted lineposition,.as shown at 8|, so that, due to the swinging action of thepartitions 42 and 43 and the rotation of the peeling elements 20 themass of vegetables will be shifted in the direction of the arrow 82transversely of the peeling elements. Upon the return movement of thepartitions 42 and 43 from their positions as shown at 80 and 8| topositions as indicated at 83 and 84, and due to the action of thepeeling elements 2D, the vegetables adjacent the partition 43 will beforced upwardly while the vegetables adjacent the partition 42 willtumble downwardly into the free space provided by the return of thepartition 42 to its Position as shown at 83. Therefore, a rotation orchurning action will be imparted to the mass of vegetables in thedirection of the arrows 85 as shown in Fig. 9. This .agitation of themass of vegetables will present the components thereof to the action ofthe peeling elements. Furthermore, the individual vegetables infrictional contact with the peeling elements 20 will be rotated therebyon their own axes and all of their skin portions Will be presented tothe abrading action of the peeling elements.

The rotation and agitation of the vegetables referred to herein inconnection with Fig. 9 take place in each one of the sections 46-49 ofthe treating compartment [5. In addition to this action and dependingupon the amount of crowding of the vegetables, as well as the angle ofrepose of various comestibles of the nature referred to herein, thevegetables will be advanced in a direction of the longitudinal axes ofthe peeling elements, until they arrive adjacent one of the passages 66,59, and 6!, whereupon they will be transferred from one treating sectionto another by the action of the peeling elements 20 imparting a forwardmovement to the same.

Due to the action of the swinging partitions or guide walls 4| to 44inclusive, the vegetables are agitated sufficiently so as to preventexcessi ve peeling of the same, which would damage these comestibles andrender them unfit for commercial purposes.

While the feeding of the vegetables in transverse directions through thetreating compart ment I5 is primarily produced by crowding the same fromthe charge end toward the discharge end of the machine, it should benoted that the swinging partitions promote such travel ma-.

terially. v a

By varying the inclination of the peeling and vegetable supportingeIements Zllupon adjustment of nuts 6' and Ill, the speed of. travelofthe vegetables throu h the mach ne anditb P e ing action upon the sameby the peeling elements 20 are regulated. However, the speed of thevegetables may be further controlled by varying the size of the passageopenings 59, 60 and -6| between the various treating sections and willbe effected by variations in the amount of vegetables supplied to thefeed hopper ll.

A hopper 86 mounted within the lower frame structure 2 and below thepeeling rolls 20 of the machine is provided for collecting the refusefrom the treating compartment to facilitate the disposal thereof.

While I have described a particular embodiment of the present invention,it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the specificstructure of the same, a many changes may be made within the purview ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and in what manner the same may beused, what I claim as new and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. In a vegetable peeling machine a longitudinally extending treatingcompartment, a series of peeling elements within the treatingcompartment positioned adjacent each other forming a continuous treatingbed for supporting vegetables thereon, means for supplying vegetables tothe peeling elements within said compartment, dis charge means on saidtreating compartment for discharging vegetables therefrom, mean forrotating the peeling elements in a common direction for advancing a massof vegetables from the supplymeans to said discharge means and forrotating the component parts of said mas in frictional contact with saidpeeling elements, a plurality of adjustable partitions pivotally mountedwithin the treating compartment above the peeling elements in closeproximity to the same andextending in a direction of the longi tudinalaxes of the peeling elements transversely of said treating compartmentfor changing the direction of travel of the vegetables therethrough,means for swinging the partitions transversely with respect to saidpeeling elements for effecting rotation of the mass of vegetablestraveling between said partitions and for promoting the advancementthereof parallel to said peeling elements, and means for adjusting thetransverse extension of the partitions with respect to the treatingcompartment for controlling the advancement of the vegetables throughthe same.

2.. In a vegetable peeling machine a series of rotatable peelingelements positioned adjacent each other in an inclined plane forming atreating bed for supporting vegetables thereon, means for rotating thepeeling elements in a common direction for directing the vegetablessupported thereby in said direction, partition means extendingtransversely of the treating bed and parallel to the axes of the peelingelements for changing the direction of the vegetables over said treatingbed, means for moving said movable means transversely of the peelingelements for promoting travel of the vegetables parallel to the peelingelements, and means for adjusting the extent of transverse extension ofsaid partition means relative to said treating bed for controlling theadvancement of the vegetables supported thereon. 3. In a vegetablepeeling machine a series of rotatable peeling elements positionedadjacent each other in an inclined plane formin an inclined treating:bed for supporting vegetables thereon, means for rotatingthe peelingelements in a common direction for advancing a mass of ve tab s. supprted, the e n. sa d ireq plt movable deflectors mounted above said bedand extending parallel to the axes of rotation of the peeling elementsfor changing the direction of travel of the mass of vegetables over saidtreating bed, means for vibrating said movable deflectors for agitatingthe mass of vegetables advancing over said treating bed, and means foradjusting the inclination of the treating bed for controlling theadvancement of the mass of vegetables relative thereto.

4. In a vegetable peeling machine, a treating compartment comprisingside and end walls and a series of closely spaced peeling rollsextending between the side walls of said compartment, a plurality ofadjustable partition members between said side walls and closely spacedabove said roll for dividing the treating compartment into a pluralityof sections, said partition members including a stationary and a movableapron, means for shifting the movable apron relative to said stationaryapron for establishing communication between adjacent sections of thetreating compartment, means for rotating said rolls for advancing a massof vegetables supported thereon through said compartment, and means foroscillating said partition members transversely with respect to saidrolls for agitating the mass of vegetables between said partitions tothereby present the component parts thereof to the action of the peelingrolls.

5. In a vegetable peeling machine, a treating compartment comprisingside and end walls and a series of closely spaced peeling rollsextending between the side walls of said compartment in an inclinedplane forming a continuous treatin bed for supporting vegetablesthereon, a plurality of adjustable partition members between said sidewalls and closely spaced above said rolls for dividing the treatingcompartment into a plurality of sections, said partition membersincluding a stationary and a movable apron, means for.

shifting the movable apron relative to said stationary apron forestablishing communication between adjacent sections of the treatingcompartments, means for rotating said rolls for advancing a mass ofvegetables supported thereon through said compartment, means foroscillating said partition members transversely with respect to saidrolls for agitating the mass of vegetables between said partitions tothereby present the component parts thereof to the action of the peelingrolls, and means for adjusting the inclination of said treating bed forcontrolling the advancement of the vegetables through said compartment.

6. In a vegetable peeling machine, an inclined treating bed comprising aseries of closely spaced arallel peeling rolls, means for supplying acon-, tinuous stream of vegetables to said treating bed, discharge meansassociated with the treating .bed, means for rotating said rolls in acommon direction for advancing the vegetables over the treating bed,guide walls associated with said treatin bed for directing thevegetables in a tortuous path over the same from the supplymeans to saiddischarge means, means for moving said guide walls back and forthtransversely of said rolls for agitatin the vegetables therebetween andfor promoting the advancement thereof over said bed, and means foradjusting the inclination of the treating bed for controlling the rateof travel of the vegetables over the same.

'7. In a vegetable peeling machine, a plurality of rotatable peelingelements positioned adjacent each other in vegetable supporting relationforming an inclined continuous treating bed, means for rotating thepeeling elements in a common direction for directing a mass ofvegetables supported thereby in said direction, deflector means mountedabove said bed and extending parallel to the axes of rotation of thepeeling elements for changing the direction of travel of the mass ofvegetables over said treating bed, means for supplying a continuous massof vegetables to said treating elements for crowding the vegetables oversaid treating bed, means for moving said deflector means back and forthover the peeling elements for agitating the mass of vegetables topromote the presentation of their component parts to the action of thepeeling elements, and means for adjusting the inclination of thetreating bed for controlling the rate of travel of the vegetables oversaid peeling elements.

8. A vegetable peeling machine comprising a treating compartment, aseries of peeling rolls within'the treating compartment positioned sideby side in vegetable supporting relation forming a continuous graduallyinclined treating bed, means for rotating said rolls in a commondirection for directing a mass of vegetables supported thereon over saidtreating bed and through said compartment, a plurality of partitionsmovably mounted above said rolls in spaced relation for dividing thetreating compartment in a plurality of sections in communication witheach other and for directing the mass of vegetables in a tortuous pathover said treating bed, means for swinging the partitions back and forthtransversely of the peeling rolls foragitating the mass of vegetablespassing through said sections to thereby present the component parts ofsaid mass to the action of the peeling rolls and for promoting thetravel of the mass of vegetables through said sections, and means foradjusting the inclination of said treating bed for controlling the rateof travel of the vegetables through said treating compartment.

9. A vegetable peeling machine comprising a treating compartment, aseries of closely spaced parallel peeling rolls within said compartmentforming a continuous treating bed for supporting vegetables thereon,vegetable supply and discharge means associated with the treatingcompartment, means for rotating the peeling rolls in a common directionfor advancing a mass of vegetables from the supply to the dischargemeans transversely over said rolls and for rotating the component partsof said mass in frictional contact therewith, a plurality of spacedadjustable partitions extending alternately from opposite sides of saidcompartment over the treating bed dividing the treating compartment intoa plurality of communicating sections for directing the mass ofvegetables in a tortuous path over said treating bed, means for swingingthe partitions back and forth transversely of the peeling rolls foragitating the mass of vegetables between adjacent partitions to therebypresent the component parts of said mass to the action of the peelingrolls, and means for adjusting the extension of said partitions over thetreating bed for controlling the advancement of the mass of vegetablesthrough the treating compartment.

10. A vegetable peeling machine comprising a treating compartment, aseries of closely spaced parallel peeling rolls arranged in an inclinedplane and extending transversely within said compartment forming acontinuous treating bed for supporting vegetables thereon, a feed hopperassociated withsaid treating compartment for supplying Vegetables to thesame, a discharge chute for discharging the vegetables from saidcompartment, means for rotating said peeling rolls in a common directionfor advancing a mass of vegetables from the feed hopper to the dischargechute transversely over said rolls and for rotating the component partsof said mass in frictional contact with the rolls, a plurality of spacedparallel partition members above said treating bed extending alternatelyfrom opposite sides thereof transversely over the same for dividing thetreating compartment into a plurality of communicating treating sectionsand for directing the mass of vegetables in a tortuous path through saidtreating compartment, means for oscillating the partitions relative tothe peeling rolls for causing rotation of the mass of vegetables withinthe treating sections incident to the travel of the vegetablestherethrough to thereby present the component parts of said mass to theaction of the peeling rolls, and means for varying the inclination ofthe treating bed for controlling the rate of travel of the mass ofvegetables over the peeling rolls.

11. In a vegetable peeling machine a treating bed comprising a pluralityof parallel rotary peeling elements extending transversely of said bed,means for rotating the peeling elements in a common direction foradvancing vegetables supported thereby over said bed, side wallsextending longitudinally of said bed for maintaining the vegetablesthereon, deflector means mounted;

above said bed and extending parallel to the axes of said peelingelements for arresting the travel of the vegetables transversely oversaid peeling elements and cooperating with said side walls for directingthe vegetables in a tortuous path over said bed, and drive means formoving said defiector means back and forth over said treating bed foragitating the vegetables thereon to promote their tortuous travel oversaid bed and to facilitate their presentation to the peeling elements.

12. In a vegetable peeling machine a treating bed comprising a pluralityof parallel rotary peeling elements extending transversely of the bed,

means for rotating the peeling elements in a common direction foradvancing vegetables supported thereby transversely over the peelingelements, side walls extending longitudinally of said bed formaintaining the vegetables thereon, a plurality of spaced individuallypivoted movable deflectors mounted above said bed and extending parallelto the axes of said peeling elements for arresting the travel of thevegetables transversely over said peeling elements and cooperating withthe side walls for directing the vegetables in a tortuous path over saidbed, and drive means for swinging said movable deflectors back and forthabout their individual pivots transversely of the peeling elements foragitatin the vegetables between said deflectors to promote theirtortuous travel over said bed and to facilitate their presentaiton tothe peeling elements.

13. In, a vegetable peeling machine, a treating compartment, a treatingbed therein comprising a plurality of closely spaced parallel peelingrolls extending transversely of said compartment, means for rotatingsaid rolls in a common direction for advancing vegetables over saidtreating bed, a plurality of partitions, means mounting said partitionsabove said rolls for movement about individual axes, said partitionsbeing formed to divide the treatin compartment into a plurality of guidechannels in staggered communication with each other defining a tortuouspath for directing the vegetables over the treating bed, and drive meansfor positively swinging the partitions back and forth over the peelingrolls about their individual axes, for agitating the vegetables passingthrough said channels to facilitate their presentation to the Peelingrolls and for promoting the tortuous travel of the vegetables throughsaid guide channels.

14. In a vegetable peeling machine, a treating bed comprising aplurality of parallel peeling rolls extending transversely of said bed,means for rotating the rolls in a common direction for advancin'gvegetables supported thereby transverse- 1y over said rolls, a pluralityof spaced movable deflectors individually pivoted above said bed andextending parallel to the axes of said peeling rolls for arresting thetransverse travel of the vegetables over the rollls and for changing thedirection of travel of the vegetables over the treating bed, drive meansfor positively moving said deflectors about their individual pivots backand forth over said treating bed for promoting the tortuous travel ofthe vegetables parallel to the peeling rolls and for agitating thevegetables between said deflectors to facilitate their presentation tothe peeling rolls.

15. In a vegetable peeling machine a treating bed comprising a pluralityof parallel peeling rolls, means for rotatin the rolls in a commondirection for advancing vegetables supported thereby transversely overthe rolls, side walls extending longitudinally of said bed formaintaining the vegetables on the rolls, partitions parallel to andabove said rolls for arresting the movement of the vegetablestransversely over the rolls and for diverting the travel of thevegetables in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls, saidpartitions being staggered with respect to each other between the sidewalls forming therewith a tortuous path for the vegetables passing oversaid rolls, and drive means for moving said partitions back and forthover the rolls to agitate the vegetables to promote their tortuoustravel over said bed and to facilitate their presentation to the rolls.

16. In a vegetable peeling machine of the type embodying a treating bedcomprising a plurality of parallel rotary peeling rolls extendingtransversely of the bed and a plurality of treating chambers above therolls separated by intermediate partitions extending transversely of thetreating bed, said partitions being formed to provide staggeredvegetable conducting openings between the chambers whereby thevegetables are required to travel in opposite directions throughadjacent chambers in order to pass through them over said bed, thecombination of: means mounting said partitions for swinging movementabout individual axes extending transversely of said treating bed, and aPower drive for positively swinging said partitions back and forth abouttheir pivotal axes to agitate the vegetables in said compartment therebyto promote their tortuous travel through said compartment and facilitatetheir presentation to said rolls.

NEAL S. SELLS.

